Arrest Results in Discovery of Possession of Law Enforcement Equipment

June 10, 2016

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif – On Tuesday, June 7, at approximately 9:00 p.m., San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department - Morongo Basin Station deputies received information John Channell, who was in violation of his parole terms, was in a motel room at America's Best Motel. Deputies located and arrested Channell at the motel.

During a search of his motel room, deputies located two pistols (one was loaded and reported stolen), an expandable baton, a police radio, two pairs of handcuffs, two law enforcement badges (one California Highway Patrol collectable badge, and one "Fugitive Recovery Agent" badge), a counterfeit one-hundred-dollar bill, and stolen credit and identification cards.

Deputies searched Channell's residence, located on the 72000 block of Sunnyvale Drive, in Twentynine Palms. Deputies located two law enforcement uniform shirts, one law enforcement uniform pant, two Los Angeles County Sheriff patches, a homemade shotgun, shotgun ammunition, pistol ammunition, and additional evidence of counterfeiting and identity theft.

Deputies transported John Channell (age 37 of Twentynine Palms) to the Morongo Basin Jail where he was booked for a parole violation warrant, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Morongo Basin Station at (760) 366-4175.

Persons charged with a crime are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com.